- Definition
Mental math strategies are simply ways your child figures out math problems in their head, without needing to write everything down. It's like using clever shortcuts to solve problems quickly.
To solve 8 + 5, you can break 5 into 2 and 3, add 8 + 2 to make 10, then add the 3 to get 13.
How to teach this in 30 seconds
Try this analogy: Mental math strategies are like finding clever thinking tricks to solve a problem in your head, like breaking a big number into smaller, friendlier pieces.
Ask your child: To solve 8 + 5, how could you break up the 5 to make it easier?
Common mix-up: Kids may think mental math means doing the paper-and-pencil steps in their head. Mental math is about finding easier, more flexible shortcuts with numbers.
Examples
- To solve 12 − 5, you can take away 2 to get to 10, then take away 3 more to get 7.
- To solve 6 + 7, you can think of it as 'double 6' (12) and then just add one more to get 13.
mental math strategies is a term used in Ontario’s Kindergarten to Grade 8 curriculum.
Where this shows up
The descriptions on this page are SmartStudy’s own original, plain-language writing — not the Ministry’s wording. They are aligned to the Ontario Curriculum, © King’s Printer for Ontario. For the Ministry’s official wording, see the source link below. SmartStudy is an independent service and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the Government of Ontario or the Ministry of Education. Ontario Curriculum and Resources ↗
